What is the Healthy Start scheme?

Healthy Start is a UK government scheme that provides a prepaid card to help pregnant women and families on low incomes buy milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, pulses, and infant formula. The card is topped up every 4 weeks with £4.25 per week for each child aged 1–4, and £8.50 per week for pregnant women and children under 1. You also get free vitamins. The scheme was previously paper vouchers but switched to a prepaid Mastercard.

Who is eligible for Healthy Start?

You can get Healthy Start if you're at least 10 weeks pregnant or have children under 4, AND you receive one of these benefits: Universal Credit (with household income under £408 per assessment period), Child Tax Credit (with family income under £16,190), Pension Credit, or Income Support/Income-based JSA/Income-related ESA. You also qualify if you're pregnant and under 18, regardless of whether you receive benefits. The scheme runs in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Scotland has its own scheme called Best Start Foods.

How do I apply for Healthy Start?

Apply online at healthystart.nhsbusinessservices.co.uk. You'll need your National Insurance number, details of your qualifying benefit, and your expected due date (if pregnant). Applications are usually processed within 3–4 weeks. If approved, you'll receive a Healthy Start prepaid card in the post. The card is topped up automatically every 4 weeks. You can also apply by phone on 0300 330 7010.

What can I buy with the Healthy Start card?

You can buy: fresh, frozen, or tinned fruit and vegetables (with no added ingredients), plain cow's milk (fresh or UHT), infant formula milk, and fresh, frozen, or tinned pulses (with no added ingredients). You CANNOT buy: ready meals, fruit juice, smoothies, potatoes (they're not classified as vegetables for this scheme), flavoured milk, baby food (other than formula), or vitamins (these are provided separately for free). The card works like a normal prepaid Mastercard in supermarkets and shops that sell these items.

Benefits & Support

Healthy Start Vouchers Guide UK — Free Food & Vitamins for Families

How to apply for the Healthy Start card, who's eligible, what you can buy, how much you get, and how the scheme works in 2026.

By PocketWise · 25 March 2026 · 3 min read

Benefits information is based on current DWP and HMRC rules. Entitlements depend on your personal circumstances. For free personalised help, contact Citizens Advice or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

Healthy Start gives eligible families free money for milk, fruit, vegetables, and vitamins. Here’s how to claim.

At a Glance

Feature	Detail
What it is	Prepaid card for milk, fruit, veg, pulses, and infant formula
Who it’s for	Pregnant women and families with children under 4 on low income
Payment method	Prepaid Mastercard (topped up every 4 weeks)
Free vitamins	Yes — available from your midwife, health visitor, or pharmacy
Where it works	England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
Scotland equivalent	Best Start Foods (different scheme)

How Much Do You Get?

Who	Weekly amount	Per 4-week cycle
Pregnant women (from 10 weeks)	£8.50	£34.00
Children under 1	£8.50	£34.00
Children aged 1–4	£4.25	£17.00

Example Family

Family member	Weekly	Per 4-week cycle
Mum (pregnant)	£8.50	£34.00
Baby (6 months)	£8.50	£34.00
Toddler (2 years)	£4.25	£17.00
Total	£21.25	£85.00

Eligibility

You qualify if you are…	AND you get one of these benefits…
At least 10 weeks pregnant	Universal Credit (household income under £408 per assessment period)
Have a child under 4	Child Tax Credit (family income under £16,190)
	Pension Credit
	Income Support
	Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
	Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Also eligible: Pregnant women under 18 — no benefit requirement.

What You Can Buy

Can buy	Can’t buy
Fresh fruit and vegetables	Ready meals
Frozen fruit and vegetables	Fruit juice or smoothies
Tinned fruit and vegetables (no added ingredients)	Potatoes (not classified as veg for this scheme)
Plain cow’s milk (fresh or UHT)	Flavoured or plant-based milk
Infant formula milk	Baby food (jars, pouches — only formula)
Fresh, frozen, or tinned pulses (no added ingredients)	Herbs, spices, soup

How to Apply

Step	Detail
1	Go to healthystart.nhsbusinessservices.co.uk
2	Create an account with your email address
3	Enter your National Insurance number
4	Enter your qualifying benefit details
5	If pregnant, enter your due date
6	Submit the application
7	Wait 3–4 weeks for a decision
8	If approved, your prepaid card arrives by post
9	Card is topped up automatically every 4 weeks

Phone application: Call 0300 330 7010 if you can’t apply online.

Using Your Card

Feature	Detail
Card type	Prepaid Mastercard
Where to use	Any shop that accepts Mastercard and sells eligible items
Online shopping	Yes — can use for online grocery orders
Check balance	Via the Healthy Start website or by calling the helpline
Unspent money	Rolls over — but try to use it regularly
PIN	Set your PIN when you receive the card
Lost card	Report via the website or call the helpline for a replacement

Free Vitamins

Vitamin	Who it’s for	What’s included
Healthy Start women’s vitamins	Pregnant women and new mums (up to baby’s first birthday)	Folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin D
Healthy Start children’s vitamins	Children aged 6 months to 4 years	Vitamins A, C, D (drops)

Where to get them: Ask your midwife, health visitor, or local pharmacy. They’re free with your Healthy Start card.

Scotland — Best Start Foods

Feature	Detail
Equivalent scheme	Best Start Foods (replaced Healthy Start in Scotland)
Payment	£4.50/week (pregnant) / £4.50/week (child under 1) / £4.50/week (1–3)
Eligibility	Similar to Healthy Start — based on qualifying benefits
How to apply	Through Social Security Scotland — mygov.scot
Card	Prepaid card

Common Issues

Problem	Solution
Application rejected	Check you meet the income threshold — if on UC, income must be under £408/assessment period
Card not arriving	Allow 3–4 weeks. If it still hasn’t arrived, call 0300 330 7010
Card declined	Check you’re buying eligible items. Check your balance
Benefit circumstances changed	Update your details on the Healthy Start website
Forgot PIN	Reset via the website or helpline
Moving house	Update your address on the website immediately

Useful Links

Sources

GOV.UK — Healthy Start